Wike Was My Staff, I Can’t Join Issues With A Child Beneath Me – Amaechi

Former governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, has said that he would not allow himself to descend to the level of a child by trading words with his successor, Nyesom Wike, the present minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Amaechi said that whether Wike likes it or not, he (Amaechi) hired him (Wike), saying that he could had said no, that he did not need his services.

The former Minister of Transportation, who stated these on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, when he featured on Arise Television News programme, specifically said that Wike was once his Chief of Staff and therefore ranks beneath him politically.

In the words of Amaechi; “I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no”.

At the celebration of his 60th birthday in Abuja last week, Amaechi had said that just like millions of Nigerians, he is “hungry”, a remark that Wike dismissed and described it as a ploy for political relevance.

Wike said that Amaechi was not hungry for food but, hungry for political power and relevance.

However, Amaechi revealed how he refused the plea by Wike to be made commissioner for Finance when he became governor in 2007, adding that Wike had recruited former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello, who flew to Port Harcourt to beg him for the position of commissioner for Finance for Wike in 2007.

Amaechi said he flatly rejected the plea by Adoke for Wike to be commissioner for finance, saying that he preferred to have him under his personal watch and hence he made him Chief of Staff.

In the words of Amaechi; “Nobody has asked that man that says he made someone governor, how he was made governor? Nobody has asked that question.

“I wanted him (Wike) as Chief of Staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him commissioner for Finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children. You know, he made himself Chief of Staff. He made himself governor. He made himself everything.

“I’m sorry, I have to call names. Mohammed Adoke Bello flew all the way from Abuja that Wike asked me to make him commissioner for Finance. I said no, I want him to work under me, I want him as my Chief of Staff so I can supervise him. I am saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.

“You know, he made himself Chief of Staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself Local Government chairman,” he enthused.